Comparing three depreciation methods

Dexter Industries purchased packaging equipment on January $8$ for $$135,000.$ The equipment was expected to have a useful life of $3$ years, or $27,000$ operating hours, and a residual value of $$5,400.$ The equipment was used for $10,800$ hours during Year $1,8,100$ hours in Year $2,$ and $8,100$ hours in Year $3.$

Required:

$1.$ Determine the amount of depreciation expense for the $3$ years ending December $31,$ by $($a$)$ the straight$-$line method, $($b$)$ the units$-$of$-$activity method, and $($c$)$ the double$-$declining$-$balance method. Also determine the total depreciation expense for the $3$ years by each method. Do not round intermediate calculations when determining the depreciation rate. Round the final answers for each year to the nearest whole dollar.

Depreciation Expense

Year Straight$-$Line

Method Units$-$of$-$Activity

Method Double$-$Declining$-$

Balance Method

Year $1$ $fill in the blank $1$

$43,200$

$fill in the blank $2$

$fill in the blank $3$

Year $2$ fill in the blank $4$

$43,200$

fill in the blank $5$

fill in the blank $6$

Year $3$ fill in the blank $7$

$43,200$

fill in the blank $8$

fill in the blank $9$

Total $fill in the blank $10$

$129,600$

$fill in the blank $11$

$fill in the blank $12$

$2.$ What method yields the highest depreciation expense for Year $1?$

$3.$ What method yields the most depreciation over the $3-$year life of the equipment?